Crackdown on kid dealers after coma ordeal of girl, 13
Alert after ecstasy tablet teenager collapses in park
A 13-year-old girl spent almost a week in a coma after taking an ecstasy pill.
The schoolgirl collapsed after taking a version of the drug known as a Mitsubishi earlier this year.
The incident happened in Saltcoats, Ayrshire, weeks after a boy – also 13 – fell ill after taking the drug.
Now police have launched a crackdown on suspected child drug dealers in and around the seaside town.
Detectives have identified 10 children – one as young as 13 – feared to be dealing cannabis and ecstasy.
Two girls aged 14 and 15 are among a list of targets police believe are caught up in the drugs trade.
The schoolgirl who collapsed was taken to Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children in June and placed in a coma by doctors while she was treated.
She and the boy, who also needed hospital treatment, are understood to have made a full recovery.
The incident has also triggered crackdowns in nearby towns Irvine, Kilwinning, Ardrossan and Stevenston.
A source said: “One of the suspected dealers has been spotted apparently going about
his business in a lane in Irvine town centre.
“He’s believed to be selling to fellow school pupils and is casual about it. He just walks about with the stuff in his jacket.
“The pills go for £10 a time but people are taking their lives in their hands, as recent events have shown.
“Authorities have plenty of information and intelligence. The officers even know where they keep the drugs.
“These youngsters think they’ ll get away with it but people know what they are up to. It’s only a matter of time before they are in serious bother.
“Ecstasy is a class A drug and anyone caught dealing is looking at time in a young offenders’ institution.”
One suspected schoolboy dealer is believed to have set himself up in business by buying a stash of the drugs from another local youth. Another, aged 16, is believed to have become involved after racking upp drug debts of his own.
A girl aged 144 is also caught up is also caught up in the web of local teen dealers due to her links selling the drugs on behalf of another youngster.
A source revealed one young dealer announced he was about to start dealing on Facebook.
The source said: “As soon as it was talked about, information was passed on to police.
“Al l of those involved in dealing to fellow schoolchildren are known to police.”
A teenager has been reported to the procurator fiscal in connection with the incident which left the girl in hospital.
Police said: “A 13-year-old girl was taken by ambulance to Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, after taking unwell and col lapsing in Leigh dykes Leigh dy Park, Salt co a Salt coats, at son June 117. She was transferred to hospital in Glasgow for treatment. “A full investigation was carried out and a 16-year- old man was arrested in connection with the alleged supply of drugs on July 7.
“A report has been sent to the procurator fiscal and Scottish Children’s Reporter.
“In a separate incident, a boy took unwell on May 15 in Adams Avenue, Saltcoats.
“He was taken to Crosshouse Hospital and released after treatment. No one was arrested.
“We work continuously to combat drugs in our local communities.
“We would reiterate warnings about the dangers of taking unknown substances as people can never be sure what they are actually taking.”
North Ayrshire council said: “We work across all our schools to drive home the message about the dangers of substance misuse.
“Highlighting these issues is a key component of our health and wellbeing curriculum.
Tragic Shellie Callaghan, 16, of Newtongrange, Midlothian, collapsed and died after taking ecstasy last year.
Last week at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, a 17-year- old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted supplying the drug to the youngster.
She was placed on an 18-month supervision order and told to complete 180 hours of unpaid work in the community.
One of the dealers just walks about with the stuff in his jacket